A Gombe State High Court sitting in Court No. 5 has sentenced two men, Buhari Sule and Muktari Ali Hilami, to death by hanging for armed robbery and the murder of a 35-year-old man.

Justice Muhammad-Auwal Haruna convicted the two defendants of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide in connection with the September 18, 2025, attack on Murtala Rabi’u at Garin Galadima village, near Pindiga, in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Victim robbed of phone, N7,400

According to the prosecution, Sule and Hilami conspired and armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including sticks and hoes, before attacking Rabi’u.

The prosecution told the court that the defendants robbed the deceased of an Itel keypad phone without a SIM card and N7,400 in cash.

After the attack, the prosecution said the defendants inflicted severe injuries on Rabi’u, which resulted in his death.

The court heard that the men subsequently dumped his body in a maize farm and shared the stolen money among themselves.

Defendants pleaded not guilty

The charges were read and explained to the defendants during the trial, but both men pleaded not guilty.

The state counsel, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, told the court that the offences contravened Sections 97, 297 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.

During the proceedings, the prosecution called two witnesses, who testified and were cross-examined by defence counsel, Dan Mamman.

The defence subsequently called one witness, who was also cross-examined by the prosecution.

Court finds prosecution proved case

Delivering judgment, Justice Haruna said the court had carefully considered the charges, evidence presented by the prosecution and the testimony of the defence.

The judge held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, particularly relying on the testimony of the first prosecution witness.

Justice Haruna also found that the defendants had failed to establish their defence against the charges.

The court consequently found Sule and Hilami guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Both men sentenced to death

Justice Haruna sentenced each defendant to death by hanging, ordering that they be “hanged by the neck until they are dead.”

The judgment brings the trial over the 2025 robbery and killing to a close at the High Court, subject to any further legal steps available to the convicted men.